Shut Off (Just This Once #3) Read Online Free Page A

like Vegas, where people lost their inhibitions like gamblers lost money.
    After the waiter returned to take our order, I waited until he was out of earshot to get right down to business.
    “He’s not telling me anything. So, I’m on my own. Anything you have for me would be helpful. I could use a handout at this point. I’m desperate.”
    “Well, I came armed,” she said, patting her laptop bag, propped up by the leg of her chair. “I don’t know what you specifically need, but I’ll help you with whatever I can.”
    She pulled her laptop out, setting it on the vacant space of the table. All of our screens were fitted with privacy filters, so I wasn’t worried about the people who sat facing her computer—they wouldn’t be able to see any more than a black screen.
    “When all of this is over, I owe you a drink.”
    “And I’ll be collecting,” she said just as the waiter came back with our plates—a dainty salad with an ahi tuna sandwich for me and a halibut filet in miso broth for Kerri. As I took the first bite of my sandwich, I reminded myself not to get too comfortable there—I wasn’t staying. This is only temporary.
    “ Did he tell you they set a date for the trial?”
    “What? Already?” I questioned around a mouth full of food.
    “Yeah, so whatever magic trick you’re trying to pull off, you better be quick.”
    “When is it?” I asked, trying extra hard not to choke from shock and from the frisée that raked its way down my throat.
    “The 21 st .”
    “But that’s only nine days away. Who’s the judge?”
    “Sorenson.”
    “I don’t know him.”
    “ She’s kind of a hard-ass. I’d say you have your work cut out for you.”
    Although I trusted Kerri, I didn’t want to give her too much information or point out that I’d poked holes in Lara’s story.
    “Do we have a current address for Lara? The one I have is from the report, and from what it looks like, someone else was living there with her. You’ve seen her; she doesn’t look like someone who is rooming with some college kid. I can’t imagine she could find anyone who would want to share a space with her, let alone an apartment.”
    With a few keystrokes, Kerri started reading off a street address that didn’t sound familiar. I typed the address in my phone and continued prying information from my friend.
    “Did you know she had a boyfriend? I saw on Facebook she’s seeing someone.”
    “Yeah, they’re getting his deposition on Friday. Apparently he’s the reason that Lara broke up with Joel. He’s the one who took her to the hospital.”
    “He said he broke up with her . Whatever. Where was he when all of this was going on?”
    “Beats me. I’m sure Henderson will ask though. Your boyfriend’s lawyer got the case to be seen behind closed doors. I told you that, right?” she asked as she cut another piece of her fish off and brought the fork to her fire-red lips.
    “Jury?”
    “No.”
    “I don’t know if that’s good or bad.”
    “Well, whatever it is, he’ll have a verdict much quicker. Without press there, he won’t be hit as hard either.”
    “I’ve got to figure this out for him.”
    “You know he does have a lawyer, right? One of the best in the city, actually. It’s not like he’s working with some public defender.”
    She was treating me like a client’s spouse, trying to assure me with a highlight reel of all the keywords that were meant to calm the harried party while the one facing the real problem actually dealt with the important things. It was the first time I was ever on the other side of the table, and I didn’t like it one bit. I wasn’t the one having to go to court, but I felt just as vulnerable. I wished I could say it was because of my job, but the more time I spent with Joel, the more I realized I had feelings for him. Feelings I’d been fighting for weeks as he lured me back.
    “What do you know about the boyfriend?” I asked, curious to know if he was anyone I’d seen